Multiple character flat panel display device

ABSTRACT

A display device adapted to display one or more characters side by side in a row and including an insulating support plate, on the top surface of which are formed a plurality of groups of conductive members, each group being adapted to be energized to display a character. The device includes various configurations of anode electrodes, shielding electrodes, and interconnections of common characters in each group to provide manufacturing economies.

United States Patent Kuchinsky et al. Sept. 2, 1975 MULTIPLE CHARACTER FLAT PANEL 2,906,906 9/1959 McCauley et a1 313/190 x DISPLAY DEVICE 3,231,776 H1966 Britnell et a1. 313/517 3,327,153 6/1967 Bickmire et a1. 313/512 [75] In Saul Kuchmsky, Somervflle; Roger 3,327,154 6/1967 Bowerman 313/519 W. Wolfe, Plainfield; Thomas C. 3,418,509 12/1968 Frouws et a]. 131/519 Maloney, Bernardsville; William M. 3.588571 6/ 1971 Uermura 313/519 Hennessey Somervlne of FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, 4524119 11/1968 Japan Mich.

221 Filed; Aug 24, 1973 Primary Examiner-Pa1mer C. Demeo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenneth L. Miller; Robert [21] App1.No.. 391,373 A Green Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 188,485, Oct. 12, 1971, [57] ABSTRACT abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 870'678, OCL 27, 969, abandoned A d1splay dev1ce adapted to dlsplay one or more characters side by side in a row and including an insulating [52] U5. CL h 313/519, 3 1 3/190, 313/220 support plate, on the top surface of which are formed [51] Int C12 0U 61/66 a plurality of groups of conductive members, each [58] Field of Search 313/519, 494, 518, 220, group bemg adapted to be energlzed d'splay a Char- 3l3/3l3 210 190 acter. The device includes various configurations of anode electrodes, shielding electrodes, and intercon- [56] References Cited nections of common characters in each group to provide manufacturing economies.

19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE CHARACTER FLAT PANEL DISPLAY DEVICE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 188,485, filed Oct. 12, 1971, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation of Ser. No. 870,678, filed Oct. 27, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For many years now, indicator tubes such as the NIXIE tube of Burroughs Corporation have been widely used in all types of instruments for providing a numerical readout of an electronic circuit logic operation. Such instruments usually include three or more of such tubes, and electronic calculators may include as many as sixteen or more.

According to the present invention, an economic saving can be effected by building the indicator tubes in groups, that is, by providing more than one group of cathode numerals in a single tube envelope, as has been the practice up to now. The present invention provides a novel indicator tube or device including a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes which can be used to display more than one numeral at a time and having novel electrode interconnections and electrode structures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a display device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom surface of a portion of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modification of a portion of the'invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of another panel embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Display device embodying the invention includes a glass envelope which is filled with a gas such as argon, neon, or the like which can support cathode glow. The envelope includes a base and viewing window which is secured to the base and encloses the various functional elements of the device which are supported on the base 30.

The functional elements of device 10 include an insulating plate 50, of glass, ceramic, or any suitable material which is supported on base 30 and has a top surface 60 and a bottom surface 70. The plate may be held in place by electrodes to be described, or it may be secured to the base by a glass-to-glass seal, by a suitable cement, by metal pins, or the like (not shown). Metallic leads or runs 80 are interposed between plate 50 and base 30 for a purpose to be described.

A plurality of identical groups of cathode character elements 90 are positioned on the top surface of the insulating plate 50. These cathode character elements 90 may be flat strips of metal, wires, or, preferably, films or coatings of a conductive material such as a mixture of powdered molybdenum and powdered manganese or powdered molybdenum and powdered titanium which is screened or sprayed on the top surface of plate 50. Such a film or coating might also be plated with nickel or otherwise treated.

The cathode elements 90 are formed in groups of seven, three such groups being shown side-by-side (FIG. 2) so that three numerals or other characters can be displayed side-by-side at the same time by energizing selected cathodes in each group. In FIG. 1, the cathodes 90 are shown as linear segments which can be combined in different groups to represent different characters such as numbers or letters. Of course, more than seven or fewer than seven elemements might be provided, as desired.

Electrical contact may be made to each cathode element in different ways. In one arrangement, an aperture 110 is provided in the insulating plate 50 directly beneath a portion of each cathode element, with the apertures associated with corresponding elements in each group being at the same general position on the plate to facilitate making common connections thereto as described below. However, the aperture associated with one cathode is at a different location than the aperture associated with the other cathodes in its group so that a straight line can be drawn interconnecting each corresponding aperture without any of the lines crossing each other. Each aperture 110 carries a conductive member 120 whichmakes electrical contact with its cathode and extends downwardly to the bottom surface of plate 50.The conductive lining 120 may be a conductive coating or apin or a wire which makes suitable contact with its cathode element.

A separate conductive lead or run (FIG. 3) is connected to each terminal or hole conductor 120 on the bottom surface of the insulating plate, with each lead 80 being connected to the terminal associated with the same cathode element in each group of elements. Thus, for example, the top conductor 80A interconnects contacts 120A to-each of the top horizontal cathodes A (FIG. 2), the next lower conductor 80B interconnects contacts B associated with the upper right cathodes 90B (FIG. 2), etc. The leads 80 may be flat metal conductors prepared by a photochemical etching process, or they may be individual strips held in place mechanically or by a cement, between the plate 50 and the base 30 of the envelope and extending through glass-to-metal seals in the wall of the envelope to provide portions outside the envelope, to which external circuit contact can be made. If the conductors 80 are individual strips, they may be soldered to the hole conductors 120, or they may have apertures into which the hole conductors, if they are pin-like, are pressed and held by a mechanical tight fit.

The conductors 80 may extend through one or both ends of the envelope, or some may extend through one end, and the others may extend through the opposite end.

The device 10 also includes a separate anode electrode for each group of cathode elements. The anodes may take many different forms, and in one arrangement, each anode is a generally flat, thin rectangular fine mesh screen which covers its group of cathode elements and has four side panels which are bent down along all four sides of the cathode arrays. The anodes may be held in place by means of tabs 172 or the like secured to panels 190 and inserted in holes in plate 50. In addition, one or more such tabs may extend through plate 50, to a conductor 80 on the bottom surface of plate 50 whereby electrical contact may be made separately to each anode.

The anode electrode for each group of elements might comprise, alone or in combination with the screens 170, a conductive film or coating 200 (FIG. 2) of relatively large size formed between the upper four segments and between the lower four cathode segments 90 (FIG. 2) and including radiating arms-210 which might comprise film or wires and which extend into and lie between the adjacent ends of the cathode segments. Electrical contact maybe made to this anode. structure also through the plate 50, for example, by means of pins 230 which make contact to a suitable conductor arrangement 80 (not shown) on the bottom surface of plate 50.

In order to isolate adjacent groups of cathodeand anode electrodes from each other, a rib or wall 240 of insulating material is provided between adjacent groups, and preferably these ribs carry a metal shield coating 250. Electrical contact may be made to this shield coating by means of suitable pins 260 or the like which pass through plate 50 tosuitable conductors. In addition, if the insulating sheet is of a ceramic material, the ribs 240 may be formed when the sheet is formed as an integral portion thereof.

In one convenient anode arrangement used in manufacturing the device and referring to FIG. 4, the anode screens 170 are connected together in a unitary assembly 264 by leads 280 projecting from opposite ends of each anode to a common horizontal plate lead 290. This structure can be prepared in a single electrochemical etching operation from a flat piece of metal. During manufacture of the device 10, the anode assembly 264 is set in place, and the anode leads 180 are sealed between the viewing window and the base. Then the leads 280are cut, for example, where they join the leads 290, to remove the common leads and thus to separate the anodescreensfrom each other.

Another panel 10', shown exploded in FIG. 5, includes all of the elements of the panel 10 with modifications of portions thereof. In panel 10', insulating plate 50 includes insulating elevations or ridges 300 on which the various electrodes of the panel are supported. Nine elevations 310 are shown in each group for supporting cathode electrodes 90 which, for convenience, are shown only on two elevations in the first group of elevations 300. An elevation 320 is provided for supporting the anode electrode 330 which is shown as C-shaped and enclosing the cathode elevations 310 and cathodes 90 on three sides. If space permits, the anode could completely surround the cathodes.

Panel 10' also includes auxiliary elevations-340 for supporting auxiliary cathodes 350 (only one of which is shown) which are shaped to represent decimal points. Of course, they may also be shaped as commas or the like. Two such auxiliary electrodes are provided at diagonally opposed corners so that the panel can be oriented as shown or turned 180, while retaining an auxiliary electrode or decimal point in its proper operating position.

Panel 10 also includes linear elevations 360, positioned between each group of electrodes, for supporting an electrostatic shield 370. The electrostatic shield is shown as a unitary structure including a large-area screen 380 which overlays each group of electrodes, side panels 382 which lie between groups of electrodes, and a support plate 390 between each of the screens and adapted to be seated on the elevation 360.

Panel 10' includes conductive runs 400 on the bottom surface of plate 50 for making connection to the cathodes by way of pins 410. Runs 420 connect to each one of the anodes 330 by pins 430, and run 440 connects to the shield 370 by pins 450.

Panel 10 (and panel 10) is mounted in a generally flat, elongated envelope 460, and it includes a header 470 which carries pins for making (3 ntact to the runs 400, 420, and 440. As part of the connecting arrangement to the header, the plate 50 is provided at one end with a series of pins 480, three near one edge and three near the other, which extend through the plate 50 and are welded or soldered on the bottom surface to anode runs 420. The pins 480 are contacted adjacent to the top surface of plate 50 by pins 490 in header 470. Run 440 is similarly connected to pin 500, and this is contacted by pin 510 in header 470. The cathode runs 400 are secured to pins 530 adjacent to the bottom surface of plate 50, and these pins are contacted by pins 540 in header 470. It is to be noted that this arrangement provides easy electrical connection to the various panel electrodes by having the pins in the header arrayed in two rows.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the various structures described within the scope of the invention. For example, although one theory would indicate that continuous sputtered metal paths will not form between the anode arms 210 and the adjacent cathodes (FIG. 2), it may be desirable to roughen or groove the surface of plate 50 between these elements to prevent such paths from forming. In addition, the cathode and anode materials and the material of the insulating plate 50 may be any one of many well known materials. The method of preparation of the various parts may also be varied as required.

What is claimed is:

l. A gas discharge display panel for displaying characters in at least three side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of a front palte with a viewing window and a rear plate, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter .surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions,

an ionizable gas within said enclosure at a pressure capable of sustaining a cathode glow discharge,

a plurality of elongated conductive runs within said envelope extending along the interior surface of said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions,

at least three groups of cathode segments arranged side-by-side along said interior surface facing the viewing window to form the side-by-side character positions, each cathode segment being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs,

a layer of insulating material over said conductive runs and said interior surface, at least in the area of the character positions, with a group of apertures therethrough for each character position, the respective apertures in each such group being aligned with the respective cathode segments of the associated cathode segment group,

each such conductive run being electrically connectedto a cathode segment in each cathode segment group to produce cathode glow along selective combinations of. cathode segments in each group, and thereby display different characters through said-viewing window, by a selective energization of said conductive runs, d

a plurality of anodeelectrodes each located adjacent and operatively associatedwith one of said cathode segment groups, each said anode electrode includ inga first conductive area located on the surface of the insulating material substantially coplanar, with the cathode segments of its associated cathode segment group and a second conductive area located between the cathode segment group and the view- 1 ing window, and

means comprising said conductive runs and a conductor connected to each of said anode electrodes for energizing the anodes sequentially and for se lectively energizing different combinations of the cathode segments sequentially, in synchronism with the sequential energization of the anodes, to form a side-by-side character display over said character positions,

2. A gas discharge display panel acters in at, least threeside-by-side ,character positions along a predetermined line, in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising 7 i h an envelope formed of-a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said, character positions, I

an ionizable gas within'said enclosure ata pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge,

a plurality of elongated conductive runs within said envelope extending along the inside surface of said rear plate in the direction of theline of character positions, a

at least three groups of cathode segments arranged side-by-side along said inside surface facing the viewing window to form the side-by-side character positions, with the cathode segments of. the different groups in substantially the same. pattern and at least certain of the cathode segments in each such group forming a parallelogram,

each such conductive run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned cathode segment in each cathode segment group to produce a glowidischarge along selective combinations of cathode segments in eachgroup and thereby display different characters through said viewingwindow, and 4 1 a plurality of anode electrodes each located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said cathode segment groups,,each said anode electrode including a first conductive area located within the parallelogram formed by the cathode segments of the associated cathode segment group, substantially coplanar with such cathode segments, and a second for displaying charconductive area surrounding said cathode segment group and havingaportion thereof located between said cathode segment group and the next ad jacent cathode segment group on each side.

. A display panel as in ,claim 2 wherein the second conductive area of each anode contacts said insulating layer on both sides ofjts associated cathode segment group.

4. A flat display panel for displaying any one of a predet ermined number of characters in each of a plurality of side-by-side character positions, comprising a gas-tight envelope formed of front and base plates closely spaced to one another and sealed together ,along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the character positions, the front and base plates form- -ing outside walls of the envelope, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge,

t least the portions of the front plate which are aligned with the character positions being transparent to glow within the envelope to provide a viewing window for the characters to be displayed,

an'assembly supported on the inside surface of the base plate including a plurality of conductive runs extending along said inside surface in the direction of the side-by-side character positions, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes positioned side-by side'in said'direction, each suchcathode electrode being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs, and an insulating layer'covering said conductive runs and said inside surface in the area of the character positions,

said insulating layer having a plurality of apertures 7 so that selective combinations of cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs,

said conductive runs extending along said inside surface throughout the length of said cathode electrode groups, and continuing alorig said inside surface through said envelope to provide external I electrical connections to said cathode electrodes,

and

a plurality of anode electrodes each located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said cathode segment groups, each said anode electrode including a first conductive portion located on the insulating layer substantially coplanar with the cathode segments of its associated cathode segment group, with at least certain of the cathode segments of the group surrounding said first portion, and including a second portion contacting said insulating layer and surrounding said cathode segment group.

5. A flat display panel as in claim 4 wherein each said sec ond anode portion contacts said insulating layer along the full height of its associated cathode electrode group on each ,side of said group. 1

6. A gas discharge display device fordisplaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of a plurality of side-by-side character positions, comprising a gas-tight envelope filled with an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge,

an insulating member with a surface thereof within the envelope and facing the viewing window in close proximity thereto,

a plurality of at least three groups of cathode electrodes supported on said insulating member and spaced side-by-side therealong in a predetermined direction face said viewing window, each such cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed,

a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said insulating member in said predetermined direction,

each such run being electrically connected to at least one cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display,

an anode electrode positioned in operative relation with each group of cathode electrodes and having a conductive lead extending through said envelope, and

a unitary shield electrode associated with all of said groups of cathode electrodes and having a portion disposed between each group of cathode electrodes and the next adjacent group.

7. The device defined in claim 6 wherein said shield electrode includes a mesh screen portion overlaying each group of cathode electrodes.

8. A gas discharge display device for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions,

an ionizable gas within said enclosure at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge,

a plurality of at least three groups of cathode electrodes supported on said rear plate to face said viewing window and spaced side-by-side therealong in the direction of the line of character positions, each such cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed,

a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in said direction,

each such run being electrically connected to at least one cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multicharacter display,

at least three anodes insulated from each other and from said cathode segments, each such anode being located adjacent to and operatively associated with one of said cathode electrode groups, and

a unitary shielding structure extending along said character positions and having a conductive portion thereof located between each cathode electrode group and the next adjacent group, and forming a shield between said adjacent groups.

9. The panel defined in claim 8 wherein all of said conductive portions of said unitary shielding structure are connected electrically in common.

10. A gas discharge display device for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of a plurality of side-by-side character positions, comprising a gas-tight envelope filled with an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge,

and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge,

an insulating member with a surface thereof within the envelope and facing the viewing window in close proximity thereto,

a plurality of at least three groups of cathode electrodes supported on said insulating member and spaced side-by-side therealong in a predetermined direction to face said viewing window,

the cathode electrodes in each of said groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, and each such cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed,

a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said insulating member in said predetermined direction,

each such run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display,

an anode electrode positioned in operative relation with each group of cathode electrodes and having a conductive lead extending through said envelope, and

a plurality of conductive barriers, one located between each cathode electrode group and the next adjacent group, to form a barrier against interaction between such groups.

11. A display device as in claim 10 wherein each of said conductive barriers extends substantially the full height of the pattern of its adjacent cathode electrode groups, to shield said groups from each other.

12. A display device as in claim 10 wherein said conductive barriers are electrically connected in common. 13. A display device as in claim 10 wherein each of said conductive barriers forms part of a unitary electrode which extends along the length of said cathode electrode groups and shields each such group from the next adjacent groups.

14. A gas discharge display device for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three character positions disposed side-byside along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions,

an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge,

a plurality of at least three groups of display cathodes supported on said rear plate and spaced side-byside therealong to face said viewing window, each such group forming one of said character positions and each of the display cathodes being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed,

the display cathodes in each of said groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, with at least certain of the cathodes in each group forming a figure 8 pattern,

a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatin gly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions,

each such run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned display cathodes in each of said display cathode groups, so that selective combinations of said display cathodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display,

at least three anode electrodes insulated from each other and from said display cathodes, each such anode electrode being located adjacent and operativ'ely associated with one of the said display cathode groups, and

a plurality of conductive electrodes, in addition to the display cathodes and anode electrodes, one lo cated adjacent each display cathode group and operative in conjunction with said group, all of conductive electrodes being electrically connected in common.

15. A gas discharge display panel for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three character positions disposed side-byside along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions,

an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge,

a plurality of at least three groups of display cathodes supported on said rear plate and spaced side-byside therealong to face said viewing window, each such group forming one of said character positions, and each of the display cathodes being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed,

the display cathodes in each of said groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, with at least certain of the cathodes in each group forming a figure 8 pattern,

a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions,

each 'such run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned display cathodes in each of said display cathode groups, so that selective combinations of said display cathodes in each such group can be energized by a selective energization of said conductive runs to provide a multicharacter display,

5 at least three anode electrodes insulated from each other and from said display cathodes, each such anode electrode being located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said display cathode groups,

a separate conductive lead connected to each said anode electrode for activating said anode electrodes individually, one after another, while said conductive runs are being selectively energized in synchronism, and

a plurality of auxiliary electrodes, in addition to the display cathodes and anode electrodes, one located adjacent each of said display cathode groups and being operative each time the anode electrode associated with the group is energized.

16. A display panel as in claim wherein each of said auxiliary electrodes is located between one of said display cathode groups and the next adjacent group and extends substantially the full height of the area covered by the adjacent display cathode groups to serve as a barrier between such groups.

17. A gas discharge display panel for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three character positions disposed side-byside along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions,

an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge,

a plurality of at least three groups of display cathodes supported on said rear plate and spaced side-byside therealong to face said viewing window, each such group forming one of said character positions, and each of the display cathodes being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed,

a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions,

each such run being electrically connected to at least one display cathode in each of said display cathode groups, so that selective combinations of said display cathodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display,

at least three anode electrode members insulated from each other and from said display cathodes, each such anode electrode member being located adjacent and substantially coplanar with one of said display cathode groups, and surrounded by at least some of the display cathodes of such groups,

and

a plurality of additional electrode members one of which is associated with each of said display cathode groups and surrounds the display cathodes of said group.

18. A display panel as in claim 17 further including ated display cathode group and the adjacent bara plurality of barrier members each located between rier member on one side of such group, and a secone of said display cathode groups and the next adjai nd portion disposed between the display cathode cent group, and extending transverse to the direction of group and the barrier member on the opposite side the side-by-side character positions to extend over sub- 5 of such group. stantially the full height of the display cathode groups, 19. A display panel as in claim 17 wherein said addito provide isolation between said groups, tional electrode members serve as portions of the wherein each of said additional electrode members anode electrodes.

contains a first portion disposed between its associ- 

1. A gas discharge display panel for displaying characters in at least three side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of a front palte with a viewing window and a rear plate, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions, an ionizable gas within said enclosure at a pressure capable of sustaining a cathode glow discharge, a plurality of elongated conductive runs within said envelope extending along the interior surface of said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions, at least three groups of cathode segments arranged side-by-side along said interior surface facing the viewing window to form the side-by-side character positions, each cathode segment being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs, a layer of insulating material over said conductive runs and said interior surface, at least in the area of the character positions, with a group of apertures therethrough for each character position, the respective apertures in each such group being aligned with the respective cathode segments of the associated cathode segment group, each such conductive run being electrically connected to a cathode segment in each cathode segment group to produce cathode glow along selective combinations of cathode segments in each group, and thereby display different characters through said viewing window, by a selective energization of said conductive runs, a plurality of anode electrodes each located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said cathode segment groups, each said anode electrode including a first conductive area located on the surface of the insulating material substantially coplanar with the cathode segments of its associated cathode segment group and a second conductive area located between the cathode segment group and the viewing window, and means comprising said conductive runs and a conductor connected to each of said anode electrodes for energizing the anodes sequentially and for selectively energizing different combinations of the cathode segments sequentially, in synchronism with the sequential energization of the anodes, to form a side-by-side character display over said character positions.
 2. A gas discharge display panel for displaying characters in at least three side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions, an ionizable gas within said enclosure at a pressure capAble of sustaining a glow discharge, a plurality of elongated conductive runs within said envelope extending along the inside surface of said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions, at least three groups of cathode segments arranged side-by-side along said inside surface facing the viewing window to form the side-by-side character positions, with the cathode segments of the different groups in substantially the same pattern and at least certain of the cathode segments in each such group forming a parallelogram, each such conductive run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned cathode segment in each cathode segment group to produce a glow discharge along selective combinations of cathode segments in each group and thereby display different characters through said viewing window, and a plurality of anode electrodes each located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said cathode segment groups, each said anode electrode including a first conductive area located within the parallelogram formed by the cathode segments of the associated cathode segment group, substantially coplanar with such cathode segments, and a second conductive area surrounding said cathode segment group and having a portion thereof located between said cathode segment group and the next adjacent cathode segment group on each side.
 3. A display panel as in claim 2 wherein the second conductive area of each anode contacts said insulating layer on both sides of its associated cathode segment group.
 4. A flat display panel for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of a plurality of side-by-side character positions, comprising a gas-tight envelope formed of front and base plates closely spaced to one another and sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the character positions, the front and base plates forming outside walls of the envelope, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, at least the portions of the front plate which are aligned with the character positions being transparent to glow within the envelope to provide a viewing window for the characters to be displayed, an assembly supported on the inside surface of the base plate including a plurality of conductive runs extending along said inside surface in the direction of the side-by-side character positions, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes positioned side-by-side in said direction, each such cathode electrode being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs, and an insulating layer covering said conductive runs and said inside surface in the area of the character positions, said insulating layer having a plurality of apertures therethrough, each aligned with one of said cathode electrodes, each such cathode electrode group forming one of said character positions, with the cathode electrodes of the different groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, and each cathode electrode being shaped as a segment of a character to be displayed, each such conductive run being electrically connected to a correspondingly positioned cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs, said conductive runs extending along said inside surface throughout the length of said cathode electrode groups, and continuing along said inside surface through said envelope to provide external electrical connections to said cathode electrodes, and a plurality of anode electrodes each located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said cathode segment groups, each said anode electrode including a first conductive portion located on the insulating layer substantially coplanar with the cathode segments of its associated cathode segment group, with at least certain of the caThode segments of the group surrounding said first portion, and including a second portion contacting said insulating layer and surrounding said cathode segment group.
 5. A flat display panel as in claim 4 wherein each said second anode portion contacts said insulating layer along the full height of its associated cathode electrode group on each side of said group.
 6. A gas discharge display device for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of a plurality of side-by-side character positions, comprising a gas-tight envelope filled with an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge, an insulating member with a surface thereof within the envelope and facing the viewing window in close proximity thereto, a plurality of at least three groups of cathode electrodes supported on said insulating member and spaced side-by-side therealong in a predetermined direction face said viewing window, each such cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said insulating member in said predetermined direction, each such run being electrically connected to at least one cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, an anode electrode positioned in operative relation with each group of cathode electrodes and having a conductive lead extending through said envelope, and a unitary shield electrode associated with all of said groups of cathode electrodes and having a portion disposed between each group of cathode electrodes and the next adjacent group.
 7. The device defined in claim 6 wherein said shield electrode includes a mesh screen portion overlaying each group of cathode electrodes.
 8. A gas discharge display device for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions, an ionizable gas within said enclosure at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, a plurality of at least three groups of cathode electrodes supported on said rear plate to face said viewing window and spaced side-by-side therealong in the direction of the line of character positions, each such cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in said direction, each such run being electrically connected to at least one cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multicharacter display, at least three anodes insulated from each other and from said cathode segments, each such anode being located adjacent to and operatively associated with one of said cathode electrode groups, and a unitary shielding structure extending along said character positions and having a conductive portion thereof located between each cathode electrode group and the next adjacent group, and forming a shield between said adjacent groups.
 9. The panel defined in claim 8 wherein all of said conductive portions of said unitary shielding structure are connected electrically in common.
 10. A gas discharge display device for dIsplaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of a plurality of side-by-side character positions, comprising a gas-tight envelope filled with an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge, an insulating member with a surface thereof within the envelope and facing the viewing window in close proximity thereto, a plurality of at least three groups of cathode electrodes supported on said insulating member and spaced side-by-side therealong in a predetermined direction to face said viewing window, the cathode electrodes in each of said groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, and each such cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said insulating member in said predetermined direction, each such run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, an anode electrode positioned in operative relation with each group of cathode electrodes and having a conductive lead extending through said envelope, and a plurality of conductive barriers, one located between each cathode electrode group and the next adjacent group, to form a barrier against interaction between such groups.
 11. A display device as in claim 10 wherein each of said conductive barriers extends substantially the full height of the pattern of its adjacent cathode electrode groups, to shield said groups from each other.
 12. A display device as in claim 10 wherein said conductive barriers are electrically connected in common.
 13. A display device as in claim 10 wherein each of said conductive barriers forms part of a unitary electrode which extends along the length of said cathode electrode groups and shields each such group from the next adjacent groups.
 14. A gas discharge display device for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three character positions disposed side-by-side along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge, a plurality of at least three groups of display cathodes supported on said rear plate and spaced side-by-side therealong to face said viewing window, each such group forming one of said character positions and each of the display cathodes being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, the display cathodes in each of said groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, with at least certain of the cathodes in each group forming a figure ''''8'''' pattern, a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions, each such run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned display cathodes in each of said display cathode groups, so that selective combinations of said display cathodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, at least three anode electrodes insulated from each other and from said display cathodes, each such anode electrode being located adjacent and operatively associated with one of the said display cAthode groups, and a plurality of conductive electrodes, in addition to the display cathodes and anode electrodes, one located adjacent each display cathode group and operative in conjunction with said group, all of conductive electrodes being electrically connected in common.
 15. A gas discharge display panel for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three character positions disposed side-by-side along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge, a plurality of at least three groups of display cathodes supported on said rear plate and spaced side-by-side therealong to face said viewing window, each such group forming one of said character positions, and each of the display cathodes being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, the display cathodes in each of said groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, with at least certain of the cathodes in each group forming a figure 8 pattern, a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions, each such run being electrically connected to the correspondingly positioned display cathodes in each of said display cathode groups, so that selective combinations of said display cathodes in each such group can be energized by a selective energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, at least three anode electrodes insulated from each other and from said display cathodes, each such anode electrode being located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said display cathode groups, a separate conductive lead connected to each said anode electrode for activating said anode electrodes individually, one after another, while said conductive runs are being selectively energized in synchronism, and a plurality of auxiliary electrodes, in addition to the display cathodes and anode electrodes, one located adjacent each of said display cathode groups and being operative each time the anode electrode associated with the group is energized.
 16. A display panel as in claim 15 wherein each of said auxiliary electrodes is located between one of said display cathode groups and the next adjacent group and extends substantially the full height of the area covered by the adjacent display cathode groups to serve as a barrier between such groups.
 17. A gas discharge display panel for displaying any one of a predetermined number of characters in each of at least three character positions disposed side-by-side along a predetermined line, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate closely spaced thereto, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, and having a viewing window for viewing such glow discharge, a plurality of at least three groups of display cathodes supported on said rear plate and spaced side-by-side therealong to face said viewing window, each such group forming one of said character positions, and each of the display cathodes being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along said rear plate in the direction of the line of character positions, each such ruN being electrically connected to at least one display cathode in each of said display cathode groups, so that selective combinations of said display cathodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, at least three anode electrode members insulated from each other and from said display cathodes, each such anode electrode member being located adjacent and substantially coplanar with one of said display cathode groups, and surrounded by at least some of the display cathodes of such groups, and a plurality of additional electrode members one of which is associated with each of said display cathode groups and surrounds the display cathodes of said group.
 18. A display panel as in claim 17 further including a plurality of barrier members each located between one of said display cathode groups and the next adjacent group, and extending transverse to the direction of the side-by-side character positions to extend over substantially the full height of the display cathode groups, to provide isolation between said groups, wherein each of said additional electrode members contains a first portion disposed between its associated display cathode group and the adjacent barrier member on one side of such group, and a second portion disposed between the display cathode group and the barrier member on the opposite side of such group.
 19. A display panel as in claim 17 wherein said additional electrode members serve as portions of the anode electrodes. 